Power profiling for embedded system design

Abstract

Tools and methods for profiling power consumption of an embedded system are provided. Power event and control modules, executable by the embedded system are provided. Additionally, a power measurement and control unit is provided that can measure the power consumption and limit the supply current to the embedded system. Furthermore, a power profiling tool is provided. The tool includes modules that interface with the power measurement and control unit and well as the power event and control modules. Then, power event and system data may be received by the power profiling tool from the embedded system and power consumption data may be received from the power measurement and control unit. Subsequently, power consumption metrics may be viewed by the power profiling tool.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for profiling the power consumption of an embedded system, the apparatus comprising:
 a system event routing module configured to record system events from an embedded system having a processing unit and one or more peripherals;   a power measurement unit configured to repeatedly measure the power consumption of an embedded system;   a power supply control module configured to control electrical current delivered to the processing unit and the one or more peripherals;   a power profile module configured to receive the recorded system events and the measured power consumption; and   a power profile viewer configured to generate a display of a power profile for the embedded system based in part upon the recorded system events and the measured power consumption.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a power interface unit connected to a power access module configured to regulate supply voltage and current to the embedded system, the power interface unit being controllable by the power supply control module. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the power interface unit comprises a power measurement module and a battery simulation module,
 wherein the power measurement module is configured to collect power readings from the power access module, and   wherein the battery simulation module is configured to alter power supply to the embedded system as controlled by the power supply control module.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the system event routing module is further configured to collect changes to voltage of the processing unit or one or more of the peripherals. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power profile module is further configured to correlate in time the recorded system events with the measured power consumption. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 profiling power consumption of an embedded system by:
 receiving power measurement data from the embedded system; 
 receiving system event data from the embedded system; and 
 correlating the system event data with the power measurement data in accordance with a common time base. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a voltage change of a processor core of the embedded system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a frequency change of a processor core of the embedded system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a voltage change of a peripheral of the embedded system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a frequency change of a peripheral of the embedded system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the power measurement data includes a power measurement of one or more peripherals of the embedded system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the power measurement data is received via a power interface unit coupled to the embedded system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the power measurement data includes a power measurement of a processing unit of the embedded system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the power measurement data is received via a power interface unit coupled to the embedded system. 
     
     
         16 . A memory device storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processing unit cause the processing unit to perform a method, the method comprising:
 profiling power consumption of an embedded system by:
 receiving power measurement data from the embedded system; 
 receiving system event data from the embedded system; and 
 correlating the system event data with the power measurement data in accordance with a common time base. 
   
     
     
         17 . The memory device of  claim 16 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a voltage change of a processor core of the embedded system. 
     
     
         18 . The memory device of  claim 16 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a frequency change of a processor core of the embedded system. 
     
     
         19 . The memory device of  claim 16 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a voltage change of a peripheral of the embedded system. 
     
     
         20 . The memory device of  claim 16 , wherein the system event data comprises data indicating a frequency change of a peripheral of the embedded system.